• Reliving their ancestors’ way of life
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and Heritage Site is a gem for schoolteachers and university lecturers who want their learners and students to experience history, ecology, and much, much more for themselves. Skyline Combined School in Roodepoort was the latest school to try it out. More than 30 Grade 10s and 11s eagerly walked in the footsteps of those who had made Melville Koppies their home many, many years ago. Some learners spotted the bright red berries of the parasitic mistletoe. They told how they squeeze them then plaster a branch with the sticky berries. The bird then comes to feast on them and the bird is history. Their ancestors had done exactly the same on the Koppies. Celebrate Heritage Month by visiting and seeing more archaeological treasures like the stone tools used by hunter gatherers hundreds of thousands of years ago and the stone walls made by the first farmers to encircle their homesteads. Melville Koppies Central (Nature Reserve and Heritage Site) is open every Sunday only in 2021 from 08:00 to 11:30. No need to pre-book. Adults R80 and children R40; season ticket for a year per adult – R500 (not transferable). All income used for maintenance and security of the Koppies – R22 000 per month needed. Security on the Koppies is provided; park in secure parking opposite the entrance at Marks Park on Judith Road, Emmarentia. Contact wendavid@mweb.co.za. Check out www.mk.org.za for more detailed information about the history and what you can see.
• Cast Aways Animal Sanctuary Fun Day
Come and enjoy a fun-filled day all in aid of Cast Aways Animal Sanctuary from 10:00 to 16:30 on Saturday, September 11. There will be live entertainment, food stalls, a car show, Achy Breaky Line Dancers and artists performing. Entrance fee is dog or cat food, toys or blankets. The venue is at 26 Johanna Street, Wilbotsdal, Randfontein. Contact Keagan on 074 019 0837 for more information.
• Provincial Indigenous Games in Munsieville
Gauteng’s young warriors are ready for battle this coming weekend in the provincial Indigenous Games with teams and players from the five Gauteng regions competing for a place in the provincial team. The games, which are part of the Gauteng City Region Provincial Heritage Month programme, take place this coming Saturday, September 11 at Munsieville Sport Complex in Mogale City starting at 09:00. The participants will be competing against each other in nine different codes including Morabaraba, Kgati, Njuva, Intonga, Drie-Stokies, Diketo and more. The selected provincial team will represent Gauteng at the National Indigenous Games taking place in KwaZulu-Natal later during the Heritage Month of September.
• Friends of Kloofendal events this September
Why not spend your free time learning about creepy crawlies, insect bites, flowers, trees and more? Well, at the Kloofendal Ecological Centre you can do just that. Bookings are limited for each event and can be made online through Quicket. Phone/ WhatsApp 079 693 5608 for more information. All Covid-19 regulations will be adhered to, and all participants must wear a mask at all times. See the latest list of activities below:
• September 11 (09:00 to 11:00) – Butterfly Walk
• September 11 (09:00 to 11:00) – Spring Flower Walk
• September 12 (09:00 to 11:00) – Essential Snakebite First Response
• September 12 (TBA) – Essential Scorpion Sting First Response
• September 18 (09:00 to 11:00) – Conservation Leadership Walk
• September 18 (09:00 to 11:00) – Geology Walk
• September 18 (09:00 to 11:00) – Creepy Crawly Walk
• September 18 (13:00 to 15:00) – Biomimicry Walk
• September 19 (07:00 to 09:00) – Birding
• September 26 (14:00 to 16:00) – Goldmine Tour
• JSS Succulent Fest at the Walter Sizulu National Botanical Garden
After many years of Roodepoort being neglected, the Walter Sizulu National Botanical Garden, together with the Johannesburg Succulent Society is hosting a grand JSS Succulent Fest at the gardens on October 9 and 10. At the centre there will be a display of many succulent specimens, mainly South African, but also global groups. The emphasis is on trying to get children fall in love with our succulents specifically, but our amazing natural heritage in general. They anticipate having demonstration gardens, showing how gardeners can use succulents in water-wise gardening, and there will also be plants for sale. The Botanical Garden get minimal support from sources other than entrance fees. Covid-19 had hit their income severely, so this event hopefully will give them a boost as well. Both the garden, and the JSS are totally non-profit organisations: entrance to the JSS Succulent Fest will be free (after the standard entrance fee to the Garden).
• SPAR Women’s Grand Prix returns by invitation only
After consultations with Athletics South Africa (ASA) and the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa it was decided to host the annual SPAR Women’s Grand Prix Series 2021, limiting each race to a maximum of 250 runners with no spectators allowed and by invitation only. Strict Covid-19 protocols will be followed at all the races, and no spectators will be allowed. However, the races will be live-streamed, and runners can be tracked live using the Sportsplits app. Visit www.sparwomensrace.co.za for more information.
• New dates for Winter Wonderland released
The new dates for the Winter Wonderland 2021 event that was to be held at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in July have been released. “We unfortunately had to postpone the event due to Covid-19 regulations, and we definitely don’t want to be known as a super-spreader company, as lives and safety are more important than money,” said Event Ladies SA Managing Director, Michelle van Zyl. The new dates for Winter Wonderland 2021 are September 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24 and 25, from 18:00 to 21:00. “We are super-excited and very positive that these will be the final dates. All new ticket purchases will be loaded by Friday, August 6,” said Michelle. All tickets purchased prior to the new dates will still be valid, as well as all complimentary tickets that have been issued. Members of the community who would like more information about the event are advised to contact Michelle on WhatsApp 072 797 2741 or info@eventladies.co.za.
• Get fit with Zee’s Aerobics classes
Join Zee every Saturday morning from 07:30 to 08:30 at the Vredenhoek Street Park; Mondays from 17:00 to 18:00 at the Lichtenstein Street Park; Wednesdays from 17:00 to 18:00 in the open field next to the Witpoortjie Bowling Club, corner of Koeberg Street and Teenstra Avenue; or Thursdays from 17:00 to 18:00 at the Kasteel Street and Java Street Park for a fun aerobics class. The classes are free and all you need is yourself, a water bottle, a towel and your mask.
• Free Fab Fit Classes
Get fitter, get stronger, get healthier and rediscover your confidence with the FAB FIT every weekday morning from 07:00 to 08:00 at Clearwater Mall in Strubens Valley. Grab a group of your besties, and join them in Clearwater Mall’s gorgeous open-air Piazza (by the Food Court) to spend the morning having a blast and making your body stronger with an intimate group of fun, like-minded fitness fanatics – for free!
• Heritage Day event at Finsbury Sports Complex
The newly established Olerato Youth Development NPO will be hosting a special Heritage Day event from 11:00 to 19:00 on 24 September at Finsbury Sports Complex. In the words of Nokuthula Radebe from the NPO, “As a community, we have countless challenges, and since the Covid-19 pandemic started the situation has worsened. Most children have abandoned their schools, some parents lost their jobs, and there are no massive developments that are enabling us to help curb the situation. Our objectives are to work with youth from nine years and upwards. We would like to ensure that young people are exposed to various sporting activities and indigenous game e.g. Diketo, Khathi, and cultural activities. Young people who are in conflict with the law should also be taken through rigorous programmes to ensure that they don’t continue on that path, by exposing them to rehabilitated former prisoners etc.” Contact Nokuthula Radebe on 072 398 7807, Julia Mbeleni on 063 438 9320 or Emma Mbongo on 082 739 4727.
• Translate just one word and ignite a child’s love for reading
A survey by the Publishers Association SA (2016) highlighted the fact that only 2% of children’s books published commercially in South Africa are in local African languages. And in a country where 80% of the population speak a home language other than English or Afrikaans there are not enough relatable stories available. Cadbury Dairy Milk wants to change this and help inspire a love for reading amongst children. What better way to do this than by creating a library of enchanting children’s stories in their mother tongue. Simply visit www.cadbury.co.za, choose your language and start generously translating words from English into your home language. Nal’ibali, with its team of young, local authors, are standing by to weave all of these translated words into exciting new stories that will be made available for parents and children to download and enjoy!
• RandWest SPCA Charity Shop
Support the local SPCA’s charity shop by donating items they can sell. Contact the Randfontein branch on 011 412 3114 or the Westonaria branch on 078 911 to make a difference.
• Cricket season in full swing
Official practice started at Randfontein Cricket Club on Sunday, August 22 and all seniors are welcome. According to the club it will be a season not to be missed. Contact Chris on 071 245 6734 for more information.
• JOBURG 10K CITYRUN goes Virtual in 2021!
Organisers of the Run Your City Series have confirmed that the Joburg 10K CITYRUN will take the form of a Virtual Race on Friday, 24 September. They said instead of cancelling the Joburg 10K CITYRUN, which is the first event on the existing Run Your City Series calendar for 2021, they are excited to offer runners a fun alternative by going virtual and letting the Heritage Day celebration continue. As it is a virtual race, participants from all over South Africa will be able to unite (virtually) in a spirit of camaraderie, pride and celebration. The entry fee will include an official performance event T-shirt, a participation medal, a race number and access to the event app, to mention just a few offerings. For further information on the Run Your City Series visit https://runyourcityseries.com/.
• Fertility Show 2021 will take place online
After its hugely successful debut last year, Fertility Show Africa (FSA) returns for two days in October with a fully interactive online show that offers participants access to a wide range of world-leading specialists, experts and clinics. This year’s FSA takes place on Saturday, October 9, and Sunday, October 10, allowing attendees from around South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world to discover everything they need to know during their fertility journey. FSA 2021 will give online attendees the opportunity to consult confidentially face to face with a wide range of clinics and experts. It will also run an unparalleled speaker programme with leading fertility and alternative parenting experts in a safe space where visitors can engage, ask questions, find answers and gather information from some of South Africa’s best specialists, embryologists, nurses, psychologists and social workers, as well an international experts. Exhibitors range from doctors to clinicians and practitioners, to top-class fertility clinics, legal advisors and support groups, surrogacy, adoption and donor agencies, natural fertility solutions and supplements, complementary and alternative therapies, as well as nutritional and lifestyle advisors. Visit their website www.fertilityshowafrica.com for more information.
• OR Tambo Soncini Gauteng Provincial Games
Rand West City Aquatics invites all children of the town who were born in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 to participate in the Soncini Games in October 2021. Children who are interested need to please note the following: They must know how to swim or can swim 25m without assistance; they must be in the age group indicated above; they must be a resident of Rand West City; if they are affiliated with a swimming club that will not participate at the Soncinc Games written, permission from the coach of that club is required; all race groups and genders are welcome to join; no cost involved. For more information, please contact the Rand West City Aquatics coordinator, Tyrone Rooskrans via cellphone/ WhatsApp on 083 976 9060.
